d's delights- cooking and crafts

Zuppa Toscana (OG Copycat!) I had made a lot of tomato-based soups lately, so I decided to go wit this.   It is supposedly a copycat of the Olive Garden recipe.   As usual, I had to make some of my own adjustments.   (Not as much kale and more broth/cream than called for) This turned out sooooo good!   I am afraid I’m going to eat it all up before even having a chance to freeze any for later!   A great comfort food for depressing winters! Olive oil 1 lb Italian Sausage (casing removed) 4 slices of bacon, diced   (bacon, bacon, Bacon BACOOOOOOON!) 1 sm-md yellow onion, chopped 3 14.5 oz cans of chicken broth 2 cups (or cans worth!) of water 1 ½ lb russet potatoes (about 4)   sliced and diced.   (leave skin on if desired- rinse and scrub first!) 1 ½ tsp sugar ½ tsp crushed fennel seeds   (these are optional, but I wouldn’t leave them out if you can help it!) Salt and pepper 2 C half and half (I actually used 32 ...

Westside-Story-Rainy-Day Kebabs   I made this on a gloomy, rainy July 4 th .   Westside Story was on TV.   I (gasp) had never actually seen it in its entirety.   I mean, I know the songs, the story, the dances… and the lyricist… but had never sat down and watched it all the way through.   So, I think these kebabs will always remind me of the movie since we made and ate them while it was on, and while Rob re-lived his glory days of being on stage. The original recipe called for some dill… but I am not a fan of dill.   It’s like the one herb I just don’t do.   Maybe it reminds me too much of pickles.   Anyway, you can sprinkle on some dill if you like.     Ingredients : 6-10 small new potatoes, cut in half (you’ll probably use 2 whole potatoes per skewer) 9-12 grape or cherry tomatoes 6-10 green onions.   (You’ll use the bottom thick portion- cut into 1 ½ in pieces.) 1 package of precooked smoked sausage. (You c...

Smoked Sausage, Potatoes and Green Beans This is not a new, innovative combination by any means, but I thought for my blog’s sake… and for posterity, I guess, that I should write down how I make my version of it. First, I used to make this in the crock pot.   That’s how I originally got the recipe.   That method basically consisted of layering potatoes, sliced smoked sausage, and green beans in the crock pot with some garlic powder for seasoning each layer.   I started making this skillet version when I wasn’t very good at thinking far enough ahead to put everything in the pot in the morning!   I found I liked it better this way because of the flavors that the skillet brought out, and the time it took to make it.   I also made some additions: Paprika and (real) Garlic.   Ingredients: Cooking Oil (once or twice around the pan) 1-2 Cloves of Garlic, chopped or minced. 4-5 Small- Medium Potatoes, skinned and sliced. 1 package of smoked sausage...